Defense ministry outlines weaponry

GREAT STRIDES:The ministry in a report described the advanced technologies it has developed in the past 20 years, including anti-radiation missiles and infrared systems

By Wu Ming-chieh and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Nine hundred core technology items added over the past two decades have enabled the military to deal effectively with threats from enemy submarines and stealth fighters, as well as a possible threat from aircraft carriers, the Ministry of National Defense said.

The statement is a part of a report by the ministry scheduled to be delivered to the Legislative Yuan today, in which the ministry intends to brief the legislature about the self-sustainability of national defense research and technology.

In the report, the ministry defines the US’ suggestion that it forms a force capable of innovation and asymmetric warfare as the establishment of a military force “capable of achieving decisive effects from attacking critical areas of the enemy’s military apparatus.”

Anti-radiation missiles (ARM) are missiles designed to detect and home in on an enemy radio-emission source, serving the purpose of taking out enemy radars or jamming communications. Cluster munitions are bombs dropped from airplanes that release smaller explosive sub-munitions prior to detonation.

In terms of missile electronic systems, the ministry’s report says it is focusing on advanced subjective and passive radar, and infrared detection and tracking systems, as well as mid and close-range anti-missile weaponry, including mobile anti-air missile platforms.

The mid-range anti-missile weaponry mentioned in the report is suspected to be the Tien Kung III surface-to-air missile, which reportedly is capable of intercepting tactical ballistic missiles. The ministry is to start producing Tien Kung III missiles soon.

In terms of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) weaponry systems, the ministry is expected to say for the first time ever that is capable of delivering EMP protection and analysis.

It is also expected to give an indication of its capability to launch anti-radiation missiles, use remote-controlled precision weaponry, and deploy mine fabricating and implementation technologies.

Those familiar with the national defense industry deem the Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missiles, the Wan Hsiang mines, underwater detectors and electronic scanning equipment which is capable of detecting stealth fighters such as China’s Chengdu J-20 as possible candidates.

The ministry also says that it has infrared searching capability and can develop weaponry affixed to missile heads, which enables it to pursue research on items such as unmanned aerial vehicles and multiple rocket-launching systems.

The ministry also said the technologies allowed it to use more of the Hsiung Feng-class missiles on warships, as well as allowing it to update warships’ battle module systems.